Page 2 of Nathan
Turning on my back, I stretched, and that’s when my foot touched something scaly. I stiffened, and all the blood left my face.
It’s not real. It’s not real, I told myself before summoning all my courage to lift my cover and see for myself.
There, curled up at the end of my bed, was a yellow snake.
I screamed my head off and jumped out of bed, crying in hysteria.
The connecting door to Conor’s room was flung open, and he came in, shushing me to be quiet.
“There!!” I pointed to the bed where the yellow snake was moving under my covers.
“Nathan, you’re waking up the house. Calm yourself, boy,” Conor ordered while River placed her arms around me in a comforting gesture.
“Don’t.” I pushed her away with confusion and fear. Her arms wrapping around my stomach reminded me too much of my nightmare.
“It’s in your head, Nathan. There’s nothing there.” Conor stepped to the bed and picked up the cover.
“See, it’s right there!!” I pointed to the yellow snake that slithered across my bed and to my pillowcase.
“Where? There’s nothing.” Conor’s voice dripped with annoyance. “It’s always the same.”
My eyes filled with tears, and I shook my head as if I could shake out the craziness and stop seeing things that weren’t there.
River took my hand and gave me a look of sympathy.
“Tell Nathan that there’s no snake,” Conor told her.
River bit her lip and pulled her shoulders to her chin.
“Don’t tell me that you see the invisible snake, too,” Conor challenged her.
River shook her head and looked down. “No. There’s no snake.”
“That’s right. I’m going to bed now. But you need to stop crying and screaming, Nathan.” Conor moved to his door.
“No!” I reached for him. “Can’t you do that thing?”
Conor stalled. “You want me to pretend that I’m removing your invisible snake?”
I nodded with pleading eyes.
“All right.” Walking to my bed, Conor bent down and scooped up air. “There. I’ve removed the snake, and I’ll set it free outside so it can go back to its family. Happy now?”
“No. You didn’t catch it. It’s hiding in my pillowcase.”
Releasing a deep sigh, Conor reached for the pillowcase, lifted it, and shook it until the yellow snake fell out.
I jerked back and pointed with wide eyes. “There!”
This time Conor reached for the right place and lifted the snake. “Did I get it?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent,” he said in a dry tone. “Now, go back to bed, the both of you.” Walking to his door, Conor paused and looked at us with a grave expression. “What am I going to do with you two?” He sighed and muttered, “Invisible snakes” before he closed his door.
Our room fell quiet again as River and I stood holding hands.
“Come,” she whispered and led me to her bed. “There are never any snakes in my bed.”
